Alexander Gennadiyevich Legkov (Russian: Алекса́ндр Геннáдьевич Легков;[1] born 7 May 1983) is a retired Russian cross-country skier who competed internationally between 2002 and 2017. He has five individual World Cup victories including one Tour de Ski title,[2] as well as gold and silver medals at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Alexander Legkov
Aleksandr Legkov at the World Championships 2007 in Sapporo.
CountryRussian
Full nameAlexander Gennadiyevich Legkov
Born (1983-05-07) 7 May 1983 (age 40)
Krasnoarmeysk, Russian SFSR Soviet Union
Height1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Ski clubDinamo
World Cup career
Seasons15 – (20032017)
Starts212
Podiums35
Wins9
Overall titles0 – (2nd in 2007, 2013, 2014)
Discipline titles1 – (1 DI: 2013)
Medal record
Men's cross-country skiing
Representing  Russia
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Olympic Games 1 1 0
World Championships 0 1 1
Total 1 2 1
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2014 Sochi 50 km freestyle
Silver medal – second place 2014 Sochi 4 ×10 km relay
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 2007 Sapporo 4 ×10 km relay
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Val di Fiemme 4 ×10 km relay
U23 World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2006 Kranj 30 km skiathlon
Bronze medal – third place 2006 Kranj 15 km classical
Updated on 2 April 2019.

Biography edit

Legkov participated in three Winter Olympic Games (2006, 2010, 2014).[3] Legkov finished in fourth place after a strong final push to catch then-leader Johan Olsson of Sweden at the 2010 Winter Olympics' 30 km double pursuit. Olsson finished in third place with Legkov 1.2 seconds behind. Legkov's next best result was eight in the 4 × 10 km relay at the 2010 Games in Vancouver.

In 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi Legkov wins the gold medal in the 50 km freestyle, and the silver medal in the 4 × 10 km relay.

Legkov was second behind Germany's Tobias Angerer in the 2006–07 World Cup.

He earned a silver in the 4 × 10 km relay and finished twice in sixth place (15 km, 15 km + 15 km double pursuit) at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championship in Sapporo in 2007.

Alexander Legkov was Total winner of Tour de Ski 2012–13 when he defeated Dario Cologna, Maxim Vylegzhanin and Petter Northug racing up Alpe Cermis on 6 January 2013.[4]

On 6 April 2018, Legkov announced his retirement from sport during his participation at the competition "Sports Elite" in Khanty-Mansiysk.[5]

Doping case edit

In December 2016, the International Ski Federation provisionally suspended six Russian cross-country skiers linked to doping violations during the 2014 Winter Olympics, including Legkov.[6] In November 2017, Legkov was disqualified for doping offences by the International Olympic Committee, and his 2014 Olympic results were annulled.[7][8] In February 2018, the international Court of Arbitration for Sport reinstated Legkov's results in Sochi 2014, including two medals, and annulled disqualification imposed by IOC. CAS concluded that there were no sufficient evidence that Legkov had broken anti-doping rules.[9][10]

On 19 January 2019 the IOC's appeal of Legkov's case was rejected by the Swiss Federal Tribunal,[11] which according to the Legkov's lawyer means that he had been "finally cleared of the accusation of doping at 2014".[12]

Political career edit

On 27 March 2016, Legkov joined the United Russia party and declared his desire to become a participant in the party’s primaries for the Moscow Oblast Duma.[13] In May 2016, he won the United Russia primaries.[14] On 18 September 2016, he was elected as a deputy of the Moscow Oblast Duma in the Sergiyev Posad electoral district No. 21. He is a member of the Committee on Youth and Sports Affairs.[14]

In November 2016, Legkov was elected head of the regional headquarters of the Young Army Cadets National Movement in the Moscow Oblast.[15]

Since 2018, Legkov has been a deputy of the United Russia faction of the 6th Moscow Oblast Duma. He is Deputy Chairman of the Moscow Oblast Duma Committee on Youth and Sports Affairs.

Legkov is a member of PutinTeam, a political organization founded in support of Vladimir Putin.[16]

Cross-country skiing results edit

All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).[17]

Olympic Games edit

  • 2 medals – (1 gold, 1 silver)
 Year   Age   15 km 
 individual 
 30 km 
 skiathlon 
 50 km 
 mass start 
 Sprint   4 × 10 km 
 relay 
 Team 
 sprint 
2006 22 37 20
2010 26 15 4 14 8
2014 30 10 Gold Silver

World Championships edit

  • 2 medals – (1 silver, 1 bronze)
 Year   Age   15 km 
 individual 
 30 km 
 skiathlon 
 50 km 
 mass start 
 Sprint   4 × 10 km 
 relay 
 Team 
 sprint 
2005 21 48 50
2007 23 5 6 Silver
2009 25 4 18 DSQ
2011 27 20 19 7
2013 29 25 6 4 Bronze
2015 31 14 4

World Cup edit

Season titles edit

  • 1 title – (1 distance)
Season
Discipline
2013 Distance

Season standings edit

 Season   Age  Discipline standings Ski Tour standings
Overall Distance Sprint Nordic
Opening
Tour de
Ski
World Cup
Final
Ski Tour
Canada
2003 19 NC
2004 20 83 57 NC
2005 21 75 48 NC
2006 22 95 64
2007 23   6 NC  
2008 24 26 18 64 20 33
2009 25 11 8 52 33  
2010 26 30 14 99 DNF
2011 27 5 5 43   DNF 13
2012 28 5   44 7 5 16
2013 29     72 7   4
2014 30     51   5  
2015 31 46 29 NC 34
2016 32 15 10 NC 8 12 DNF
2017 33 49 39

Individual podiums edit

  • 9 victories – (6 WC, 3 SWC)
  • 35 podiums – (22 WC, 13 SWC)
No. Season Date Location Race Level Place
1  2006–07  16 December 2006   La Clusaz, France 30 km Mass Start F World Cup 2nd
2 2 January 2007   Oberstdorf, Germany 10 km + 10 km Pursuit C/F Stage World Cup 2nd
3 7 January 2007   Val di Fiemme, Italy 11 km Pursuit F Stage World Cup 2nd
4 31 December 2006
– 7 January 2007
   Tour de Ski Overall Standings World Cup 2nd
5 20 January 2007   Rybinsk, Russia 30 km Mass Start F World Cup 1st
6  2008–09  6 December 2008   La Clusaz, France 30 km Mass Start F World Cup 3rd
7 8 March 2009   Lahti, Finland 15 km Individual F World Cup 1st
8 18–22 March 2009   World Cup Final Overall Standings World Cup 3rd
9  2009–10  29 November 2009   Rukatunturi, Finland 15 km Individual C World Cup 3rd
10 20 December 2009   Rogla, Slovenia 30 km Mass Start C World Cup 2nd
11  2010–11  29 November 2009   Rukatunturi, Finland 10 km Individual C Stage World Cup 2nd
12 26–28 November 2010   Nordic Opening Overall Standings World Cup 1st
13 11 December 2010   Davos, Switzerland 15 km Individual C World Cup 2nd
14 18 December 2010   La Clusaz, France 30 km Mass Start F World Cup 3rd
15 1 January 2011   Oberhof, Germany 15 km Pursuit C Stage World Cup 3rd
16 2011–12 3 January 2012   Toblach, Italy 5 km Individual C Stage World Cup 1st
17 4 January 2012   Cortina-Toblach, Italy 35 km Pursuit F Stage World Cup 3rd
18 8 January 2012   Val di Fiemme, Italy 9 km Pursuit F Stage World Cup 1st
19 18 February 2012   Szklarska Poręba, Poland 15 km Individual C World Cup 3rd
20 2012–13 1 December 2012   Rukatunturi, Finland 10 km Individual F Stage World Cup 1st
21 29 December 2012   Oberhof, Germany 4 km Individual F Stage World Cup 3rd
22 30 December 2012 15 km Pursuit C Stage World Cup 2nd
23 3 January 2013   Cortina-Toblach, Italy 35 km Pursuit F Stage World Cup 2nd
24 29 December 2012
– 6 January 2013
    Tour de Ski Overall Standings World Cup 1st
25 2 February 2013   Sochi, Russia 15 km + 15 km Skiathlon C/F World Cup 3rd
26 17 February 2013   Davos, Switzerland 15 km Individual F World Cup 3rd
27 16 March 2013   Oslo, Norway 50 km Mass Start F World Cup 1st
28 24 March 2013   Falun, Sweden 15 km Pursuit F Stage World Cup 3rd
29  2013–14  1 December 2013   Nordic Opening Overall Standings World Cup 3rd
30 1 February 2014   Toblach, Italy 15 km Individual C World Cup 1st
31 2 March 2014   Lahti, Finland 15 km Individual F World Cup 3rd
32 8 March 2014   Oslo, Norway 50 km Mass Start C World Cup 3rd
33 15 March 2014   Falun, Sweden 15 km + 15 km Skiathlon C/F Stage World Cup 3rd
34 14–16 March 2014   World Cup Final Overall Standings World Cup 3rd
35  2016–17  17 December 2016   La Clusaz, France 15 km Mass Start F World Cup 3rd

Team podiums edit

  • 3 victories – (3 RL)
  • 12 podiums – (12 RL)
No. Season Date Location Race Level Place Teammates
1  2006–07  19 November 2006   Gällivare, Sweden 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Cup 2nd Rochev / Pankratov / Dementyev
2 17 December 2006   La Clusaz, France 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Cup 1st Rochev / Pankratov / Dementyev
3 25 March 2007   Falun, Sweden 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Cup 3rd Pankratov / Rochev / Vylegzhanin
4  2007–08  25 November 2007   Beitostølen, Norway 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Cup 3rd Rochev / Pankratov / Dementyev
5  2009–10  22 November 2009   Beitostølen, Norway 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Cup 2nd Vylegzhanin / Pankratov / Chernousov
6  2010–11  21 November 2010   Gällivare, Sweden 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Cup 2nd Belov / Vylegzhanin / Sedov
7 19 December 2010   La Clusaz, France 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Cup 2nd Belov / Sedov / Vylegzhanin
8 6 February 2011   Rybinsk, Russia 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Cup 1st Belov / Vylegzhanin / Sedov
9  2012–13  25 November 2012   Gällivare, Sweden 4 × 7.5 km Relay C/F World Cup 3rd Belov / Vylegzhanin / Chernousov
10 2013–14 8 December 2013   Lillehammer, Norway 4 × 7.5 km Relay C/F World Cup 1st Yaparov / Bessmertnykh / Vylegzhanin
11  2015–16  24 January 2016   Nové Město, Czech Republic 4 × 7.5 km Relay C/F World Cup 2nd Belov / Chervotkin / Ustiugov
12  2016–17  18 December 2016   La Clusaz, France 4 × 7.5 km Relay C/F World Cup 2nd Belov / Chervotkin / Ustiugov

References edit

  1. ^ Karmanov, R.: "«Мой сын – Санька Лёгков...». Отец лидера сборной России открыл для «Советского спорта» то, что не рассказывал никому." Sovsport.ru, 8 December 2009. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  2. ^ "Biography of Alexander Legkov at the official FIS site". Archived from the original on 29 June 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  3. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Alexander Legkov". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020.
  4. ^ "Viessmann FIS World Cup Cross-Country - Legkov dominates on Alpe Cermis to win Tour de Ski - Updated". www.fiscrosscountry.com. Archived from the original on 8 January 2013.
  5. ^ "Олимпийский чемпион Александр Легков объявил о завершении международной карьеры - ТАСС". TACC. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  6. ^ "Six Russian XC Skiers and Two Biathletes Provisionally Suspended due to McLaren Report UPDATED". SkiTrax. 23 December 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  7. ^ "Decision of the IOC Disciplinary Commission" (PDF). olympic.org.
  8. ^ "МОК лишил Легкова золота Сочи на 50 км, Россия теряет серебро в эстафете" (in Russian). Sport-Express. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  9. ^ "The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) delivered its decisions in the matter of 39 Russian Athletes v/ the IOC: 28 appeals upheld, 11 partially upheld" (PDF). Court of Arbitration for Sport. 1 February 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  10. ^ "Twenty-eight Russian athletes have doping bans overturned by Cas". The Guardian. 1 February 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  11. ^ "No Surprises – The first IOC Appeal against a CAS Award (CAS 2017/A/5379) dismissed by the Swiss Federal Tribunal". SportLegis. 28 February 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  12. ^ "Swiss Federal Tribunal reject IOC appeal against CAS decision to clear Legkov of doping". Inside The Games. 19 January 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  13. ^ "Легков вступил в «Единую Россию» и намерен участвовать в выборах" [Legkov joined United Russia and intends to participate in the elections]. Openski (in Russian). 27 March 2016. Archived from the original on 9 April 2016.
  14. ^ a b "Легков Александр Геннадьевич" [Legkov Alexander Gennadievich] (in Russian). Moscow Oblast Duma. Archived from the original on 9 November 2017. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  15. ^ "Олимпиец Александр Легков возглавил подмосковный штаб движения «Юнармия»" [Olympian Alexander Legkov headed the Moscow headquarters of the Yunarmiya movement] (in Russian). Archived from the original on 4 October 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  16. ^ PutinTeam openski.ru [dead link]
  17. ^ "Athlete : LEGKOV Alexander". FIS-Ski. International Ski Federation. Retrieved 13 March 2018.

External links edit